BIOS

Australia imposes travel restrictions on Sochi-bound athletes

A woman stands beneath the Olympic rings while having her photo taken inside the Olympic Park at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP / David Goldman)

The Associated Press
Published Saturday, February 1, 2014 3:54PM EST

SOCHI, Russia -- The Australian Olympic Committee has imposed travel restrictions on team members in Sochi, advising athletes not to travel into downtown areas outside the secured perimeter of Olympic Games venues.

Team chief Ian Chesterman outlined the restrictions Saturday, saying they followed general advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs to "exercise a high degree of caution" in Russia.

Chesterman said the 60-member team was allowed to travel only on official Olympic transport between venues and not to go beyond "the security perimeters."

He says "I don't think it will detract from the experience because the highlights of these Games are the regions they can still go to."

While imposing what he called "minor restrictions," Chesterman said he was confident with security levels in Sochi, adding: "We feel very comfortable coming here, everybody here has already experienced a level of security is in place -- it's intense, but not heavy-handed."